Begonia plant named ‘BBEN033-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Begonia rex - cultorum  plant named ‘BBEN033-0’ is disclosed, characterized by a large palmate foliage. Plants have silver foliage with a dark pink center and distinctive very dark greyed-purple to black margin. Plants are large, upright and grow rapidly. The new variety is a  Begonia , normally used as an ornamental garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Begonia rex-cultorum.

Variety denomination: ‘BBEN033-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated as the result of a cross performed during 2018 of anunnamed, unpatented proprietary Begonia rex-cultorum as the seed parent,and the unpatented Begonia rex-cultorum ‘Midnight Magic’ as the pollenparent. The selection of the new variety was made during August of 2018by the inventor at a research greenhouse located in Wales, UK.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘BBEN033-0’ was first performedat a research greenhouse located in Wales, UK by terminal vegetativecuttings in August of 2018. ‘BBEN033-0’ has since produced threegenerations by vegetative cuttings and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BBEN033-0’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BBEN033-0’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BBEN033-0’ as a new and distinct Begoniarex-cultorum cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Palmate leaf.    -   3. Rapid growth.    -   4. Large plant.    -   5. Silver foliage with a dark pink center and distinctive very        dark greyed-purple to black margin.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BBEN033-0’ are similar to plants of the seedparent variety in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘BBEN033-0’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Leaves of the new variety are larger than leaves of the seed        parent.    -   2. Plants of the new variety have a shorter, less leggy habit        than the seed parent.    -   3. Plants of the new variety grow faster than plants of the seed        parent.    -   4. Plants of the new variety have shorter internodes than the        seed parent plant.    -   5. Foliage of the new variety has a pink center and dark margins        not found on the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BBEN033-0’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent variety in most horticultural characteristics. However,plants of the new cultivar ‘BBEN033-0’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Leaves of the new variety are palmate, leaves of the pollen        parent are cordate.    -   2. Plants of the new variety are taller than plants of the        pollen parent.    -   3. Foliage of the new variety is silver with a dark pink heart        and very dark purple to black margin, foliage of the seed parent        is dark green.    -   4. Plants of the new variety are not as susceptible to fungal        infection as are plants of the pollen parent.    -   5. Foliage of the new variety is not as deeply rugose as foliage        of the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BBEN033-0’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety, Begonia ‘BDIBL12-0’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 33,502 inmost horticultural characteristics including plant habit and leaf shape.Foliage color of the new cultivar ‘BBEN033-0’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Foliage of the new variety has a silver background,        distinctive dark pink center and very dark purple to black        margin. Foliage color of ‘BDIBL12-0’ has a distinct lavender        pater than becomes more vivid and darker towards the center.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BBEN033-0’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety, Begonia ‘BRXBR15-0’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,110 inmost horticultural characteristics. Plants of the new cultivar‘BBBEN033-0’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Foliage of the new variety has a jagged margin not found on        ‘BRXBR15-0’.    -   2. Foliage of the new variety is silver with a dark pink center        and very dark purple to black margin; foliage of ‘BRXBR15-0’ is        red with black margins.    -   3. Plants of the new variety are shorter than plants of this        comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of Begonia is shownin the accompanying photograph, the colors being as nearly true aspossible with color photographs of this type. The accompanying figureillustrates a typical plant of ‘BBEN033-0’. Age of the plant isapproximately 16 weeks, shown in a 1 gallon pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘BBEN033-0’ plants grown in a commercialcontrolled greenhouse in Somis, Calif. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia rex-cultorum ‘BBEN033-0’.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 16 weeks.-   Container of plant described: 1-gallon pot.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Vegetative tip cuttings.-   Time to develop roots: About 10 days at approximately 21° C.-   Time to develop a rooted liner: About 21 days at approximately 21°    C.-   Root description: Fibrous, fine, well branched. White and tan, not    accurately measured with The R.H.S. Chart.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright growing, fleshy annual.-   Plant shape: Upright, flattened globular.-   Pot size of plant described: 1 gallon.-   Height: Approximately 40 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 55 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Basally emerging foliage, no actual    branches, only petioles.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Single, basally emerging foliage and long petioles.        -   Orientation.—Mainly upwardly facing foliage. Lower, oldest            foliage outwardly facing.        -   Strength.—Very strong, hard foliage, resists breakage.        -   Texture, top surface.—Leathery, slightly rugose along main            vein. Moderately hirsute throughout blade.        -   Texture lower surface.—Main surface non-pubescent, veins            sparsely hirsute. Largest veins more densely hirsute.        -   Appearance.—Metallic, matte and slightly leathery appearance            to upper surface. Lower surface matte.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 22 to 30.        -   Shape of blade.—Overall palmate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate, non-overlapping very slightly overlapping top            of leaf surface.        -   Margin.—Incised and serrate. Sinuses acute, average depth            approximately 0.8 to 1.8 cm.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Mature leaves.—        -   Average length.—Average range 12 to 18 cm.        -   Average width.—Average range 12 to 16 cm.        -   Color.—Mature foliage upper side: Main color near            Greyed-Green 188C with sheen near 191D. Center blotch,            approximately 20% of leaf blade near Red-Purple 64A, with            Greyed-Purple N187A feathering around veins near center.            Feathering near lateral veins about 30% from margin colored            near Greyed-Green N189A. Well defined margin colored near            Greyed-Purple N187A and Black 202A. Mature foliage under            side: Main color near Greyed-Green 188C flushed Red-Purple            59C. Center blotch, approximately 20% of leaf blade RHS            Greyed-Purple 187B flushed Red-Purple 64A. Well defined            margin colored near Greyed-Purple 187A and Black 202A.            Venation: Type: Palmate. Venation color upper side: Center            venation colored near Red-Purple N57C. About halfway to apex            veins are colored near 59B. Venation color under side: Near            Red-Purple 59A.        -   Petiole.—Length: Average range 14 to 18 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 8 to * mm. Color: Background color near RHS            Greyed-Purple 185C, flushed Red-Purple 58A. Texture:            Hirsute.        -   Stipule description.—Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Shape: Deltate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate. Color: Immature near RHS Greyed-Purple 187C            flushed 58A, upper and lower surfaces. Dries to Brown 200D,            upper and lower surfaces, before leaf matures. Texture:            Upper Surface: Very sparsely pilose. Lower Surface:            Glabrous.-   Flower: Not observed to date.-   Reproductive organs: Not observed to date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: The new variety shows some increased    resistance to fungal diseases of Begonia. Typical fungal diseases    include Xanthomonas, Botrytis, Odium and Pythium. Neither resistance    nor susceptibility to other diseases or pests of Begonia has been    observed in this variety.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures from    approximately 5° to 35° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begoniarex-cultorum plant named ‘BBEN033-0’ as herein illustrated anddescribed.